At 06:29 PM 12/8/99 -0500, "Rick Kennerly" <nh2f@abs.net> wrote: >We are pretty clogged up with crab pots on the Chesapeake but I've resisted >Spurs, preferring careful navigation and attention to boat handling. > >After all, what you are doing when you cut a line is dropping a perpetual >killing machine to the bottom--crabs die, attracts other crabs to the pot, >which die, which attracts other crabs. Same for lobsters. We can make all >kinds of arguments about whether the crabber should this or shouldn't that, >but we're in it for the recreation, he's trying to feed mouths. And we're >the one who ultimately drop these killing machines to the bottom. Thanks for the different point of view, Rick. It seems to be a well balanced one. This area here is also pretty "clogged" with crab pots; yet, our whole family has been boating here for three decades without even one of us ever picking up a crab pot. Frankly, they are not that hard to miss; so long as you keep a careful watch for them. As for being a "perpetual killing machine," however; I don't think you have much to worry about. I've pulled a lot of abandoned crab pots out of our local waters over the years; and I've seen hundreds of others while diving. Never once have I ever seen a crab (dead or alive) in one of them. Naturally, my observations are limited to Blue Crabs only, and then only with the type of trap commonly used in our area. I cannot say if the same thing is true of other species or other trap types; but at least here it does not seem to be a concern. I've never had spurs on a boat; but they do seem to be a good idea. We will probably put them onto Doulos I, which is being set up as a commercial troller/trapper. We won't be running any of those shallow water traps that you are concerned about; but rather we are exploring some deep water trapping technologies. You won't have to worry about hitting our traps; but if I snag my own line on my propeller shaft, I think that I would want the spurs. The traps are expensive enough that if I do cut my own line, that I'll certainly put the effort into recovering the trap. :-) BTW: If fish traps are being used in your area, they will continue to catch fish forever. They are no longer used down here, but I cannot say for sure where else they might still be used. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ :: Paul and Cindy Kruse :: KJV Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, 165 South Kenneth Court :: my peace I give unto you: Merritt Island, FL 32952 :: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. E-mail: plkruse@iu.net :: Let not your heart be troubled, 407-453-6206 :: neither let it be afraid. :: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

= I cannot say if the same =thing is true of other species or other trap types; but at least here it =does not seem to be a concern. = Depends on state law and local custom. Some areas require a light twine be used on one side of the trap. Then if the trap is lost, the twine rots out, allowing one side of the trap to fall open. I think Maine has something similar for lobster pots. I've pulled up obviously lost or abandoned pots here on the Chesapeake and found them teeming with crabs. Rick